Nothing to Fear

by Claire Boston

  Hannah shifted and put her arm around Felix. He leaned into her. “You’ll wait, or you’ll go without Felix.” Hannah slid her phone out of her pocket.

  “Bitch!”

  Paula swung her arm, this time connecting. Hannah’s face stung, but she pushed Felix away to protect him as Paula yelled, “You’ll pay for what you did!”

  Ryan strode across the lawn, his chest tight. After Lynette’s call, he’d rushed out of the police station, bringing Adam with him. The crack as Paula slapped Hannah split the air and anger rushed him like a criminal on speed. How dare she hit Hannah!

  “Dad!” Felix ran over.

  Ryan stopped and embraced him, giving himself a moment to control the anger that was snarling to be released. Hannah could take care of herself. “Are you all right, mate?”

  “Mum wanted me to go with her, but you told me I should always check with you.”

  “That’s right,” Ryan told him. He hated to think what Paula’s game was. Why would she want to take Felix with her? What the hell was she doing here anyway? “Why don’t you go with Hannah while I talk to your mum?”

  Felix nodded. But before Ryan said anything else, Paula screeched, “She’s not taking my son anywhere!”

  Ryan winced.

  “Jacob, Felix, let’s go inside,” Lynette called.

  Felix glanced up at him and he nodded. “I’ll come in when I’m done here,” he promised.

  He waited until Felix and Jacob were out of earshot before he turned to Hannah. Her cheek was red from Paula’s hand and her eyes were angry, but she smiled at him. “I was going to see my grandparents, but I’ll come back later.”

  “I’ll call you,” he murmured, resisting the urge to brush his fingers over her cheek. She and Mai walked towards the carpark and Ryan turned his attention to Paula. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was looking for somewhere to stay and saw Felix playing on the lawn.”

  There was no way Paula would ever stay in a holiday park. It was beneath her. “Try again.”

  “What do you mean?” Now that Hannah was gone, she was all sweetness and guile.

  “You’ve got a place in Albany. Your bail conditions don’t allow you to stay elsewhere.”

  “I wanted to see you.” She looked down, acting coy, with a hint of a tear in her eye. That move used to get him every time. He’d been such a sucker.

  He crossed his arms. “You have my mobile number. If you wanted to see me, you could have called.”

  “I wasn’t sure you would answer.”

  She was lying. “Why are you in Blackbridge, Paula?”

  “I missed you. You left Karratha and all I could think was what a fool I’d been.”

  He hated that Adam was there listening to this. “Paula, I’ve told you before, we are never getting back together. I don’t love you, I don’t even like you anymore.”

  “It’s because you’ve found someone else, isn’t it?” Paula asked, the innocence being replaced by venom. “That slut is trying to steal my husband away.” She gestured angrily towards the car park where Mai and Hannah were getting into Mai’s car.

  He took a step back. There was no way he was going to tell Paula how he felt about Hannah. It far exceeded what he’d ever felt for Paula, even in their earliest days together.

  The realisation was like a bell ringing in his head. He wanted Hannah in his life. He wouldn’t let Paula scare Hannah away. “Hannah’s been the victim of some nasty pranks. The police have concern for her safety and it’s my job to make sure she’s safe.”

  Paula frowned. “It didn’t look like that. You went on a picnic together.”

  “We did. She was appreciative of the police help and offered to show us around. It was a friendly, small-town thing to do.”

  “She took her time putting sun cream on your back. She wants you.”

  Ryan kept his expression blank. Paula had followed them when they’d gone on the picnic, she hadn’t just seen them in town. He hadn’t noticed her at all.

  Adam had his notepad out and was documenting the information.

  “Paula, you shouldn’t even be at the holiday park. Your bail conditions prevent you from going near Hannah.”

  “I didn’t know she worked here,” Paula said. “I was searching for my baby. I want to talk to Felix, but that bitch wouldn’t let me.”

  “I didn’t say Hannah worked here.”

  Caught in her lie, Paula didn’t say anything.

  Ryan continued. “As far as I’m concerned, she did exactly the right thing. You were taking Felix without consent.”

  The tears formed in Paula’s eyes, but before she could speak, Ryan said, “What do you want to say to Felix?”

  She hesitated a second. “I wanted to wish him a merry Christmas.”

  “Do you have any presents for him?” She looked surprised and Ryan shook his head. Of course she didn’t. She never remembered to buy Felix anything. “I’ll ask him if he wants to see you. You have to stay in Albany until your court hearing, so if you want to visit Felix, call me and we’ll arrange a time.” He hated the thought of her seeing his son, but she was Felix’s mother.

  Ryan walked around to the back door of the office. Lynette, her three boys and Felix were sitting in the kitchen having a drink.

  “Everything all right?” she asked.

  Ryan nodded. “Felix, your mum wants to wish you a merry Christmas.”

  “Do I have to go?”

  “Not if you don’t want to.”

  Felix hesitated. “Will you come with me, Dad?”

  “Of course.” He held out a hand and Felix took it. Together they walked across the lawn to where Paula and Adam were waiting.

  Paula leaned over Felix. “I’ve missed you, baby. Can we have Christmas together? You’d like to have Christmas with your mum, wouldn’t you?”

  “No.” She was still trying to manipulate them. She didn’t care about Felix, didn’t want to be with them. “Felix is with me this Christmas and we already have plans.”

  The relief on Felix’s face was obvious.

  “Your dad’s being a meany,” Paula said. “If you tell him you want me there, I’m sure he’ll change his mind.”

  Ryan had had enough. “Have you said everything you want to say, Paula?” he asked. “Felix has somewhere he needs to be.”

  Perhaps his steely tone, or his glare, finally cut through the bullshit she was spouting.

  “Merry Christmas, baby.” Tears welled in her eyes again. “I miss you.” She squeezed Felix tight and he winced.

  When she was done, Felix stepped back next to Ryan and Ryan put a hand on his shoulder in support. “Wait here, Paula.” He was going to have to take her into custody for breaching her bail conditions and she really wasn’t going to like it, but first he wanted to get Felix out of the way. He left her with Adam, took Felix’s hand and walked to the office.

  When they were out of sight of Paula, Ryan stopped and crouched down next to Felix. “How’s it going, mate?”

  He shrugged, looking at his feet.

  “I’m glad you didn’t go with her,” Ryan said. “Then I wouldn’t have known where you were.”

  “She said you asked her to pick me up,” Felix said. “But Hannah wouldn’t let her take me.” His eyes were wide. “She was so brave standing up to Mum.”

  “Mate, if I ever ask your mum to pick you up, I’ll tell Lynette or Mrs Z, or whoever you’re with, OK?”

  Felix nodded. “That’s what I thought.”

  Ryan pulled his son in for a hug, wanting to erase the sadness from his face. They went inside and Felix wandered over to Jacob, while Ryan pulled Lynette aside. “Thanks for calling me.”

  “No problems. She’s really Felix’s mum?”

  “Yeah.” He ran a hand through his hair and forced a smile. He thought he’d left all the drama behind when he’d left Karratha. “I need to arrest her because she’s breached her bail conditions. Can you keep Felix in here for a little longer? I don’t want him t
o see it.”

  Lynette’s eyes widened. “Sure.”

  He said goodbye to Felix and Lynette’s sons and then headed back to Adam. Paula was nowhere in sight. “Has she gone?”

  “Yep. She got in a hire car and tore off down the street.”

  The tension in his shoulders relaxed. He didn’t have to deal with her. “All right. Can you report she broke her bail conditions? Albany can pick her up. I don’t like the way she’s talking about Hannah. Hannah’s got enough to deal with at the moment without adding my ex to it.” He was past making excuses for Paula. She’d had enough second chances from him to last her a lifetime. There was no way he was going to let her hurt Hannah.

  “Will do.”

  With a sigh, he headed back to work.

  On Friday when Hannah woke she felt more human. She’d gone to bed early and slept solidly, secure in the knowledge that Joe was next to her and he was going to be fine. In fact, he looked quite content with Calypso curled up next to him.

  She fed both animals and then went downstairs to the bakery where Mai had been at work for hours already.

  “I made doughnuts today,” Mai said as she walked in, gesturing to where they were resting. “The oil’s heated so throw a couple in.”

  Hannah did as she asked, greeting the other baker, Penny, and admiring how Mai had multiple things happening at all times. The kitchen was always surprisingly clean considering how much flour was used every day.

  “How’s Joe?” Mai asked.

  “He’s doing well,” Hannah said. “I’ll take him for a short walk later.” She drained the doughnuts and then rolled them in the sugar-and-cinnamon mix on the bench. “Do you want one?” she asked Mai.

  “No, I’m good.” Mai was icing some vanilla slice as she spoke. “What are you doing today?”

  Hannah shrugged. “I might head out to the cabin and do some work out there. I’ve still got to fix some of the paintwork from Paula’s tantrum.” The only problem was she didn’t feel like it, didn’t want to do much, in fact.

  Plus, she still had to figure out what to do about her granddad and father and hadn’t had a chance to speak with either of them. Her phone rang.

  “Princess, can we meet today?” her father said.

  She took a deep breath. This is what she wanted, a chance to clear the air and figure out what to do about him. “All right. Where and when?”

  “How about we meet at the park by the river?” he said. “About nine o’clock?”

  She checked the time. It gave her an hour. “Sure.”

  Taking the doughnuts she’d cooked and the coffee Mai handed her, Hannah sat in the seating area of the bakery. Did she want a relationship with her father? She couldn’t decide until she’d had her questions about that night answered. Only her father could tell her that.

  But would he be honest?

  Would seeing her father mean she lost her grandparents? Was she only ever going to have one or the other?

  Her chest squeezed.

  She’d missed her father dreadfully, had been sure there was an explanation for what had happened, but no one would talk to her about him.

  Mai took a seat next to her, carrying a coffee and a croissant. She groaned as she sat. “Some days it feels good to get off my feet.”

  Hannah smiled. “I don’t know how you get up so early every day.”

  “I love that time of the morning,” she said. “After so many years living with all my siblings, it’s a blessing to be alone.” She sipped her coffee. “Any news from Lincoln this morning?”

  Hannah shook her head. “I haven’t called yet.” She wanted a couple of minutes of peace before she discovered what else had gone wrong in her life.

  “Want me to?”

  It would be better to get it over and done with. “No, I will.” She dialled Ryan’s number. They’d spoken briefly the night before after the Paula incident, but she hadn’t seen him. He’d been concerned about Felix and wanted to spend the evening with him. When he answered she asked, “How’s Felix today?”

  “He’s doing really well.” Ryan’s voice instantly soothed her, made her smile. “You’re his hero for standing up to Paula. He wants to know when you’re coming over next.”

  So did Hannah. She wanted to spend some time with both Ryan and Felix away from all the craziness. “I’m glad I got there when I did.”

  “Me too.” His tone was grim. “I don’t know what Paula was playing at.” He changed the subject. “How are you holding up? How’s Joe?”

  She smiled at the concern. “Joe’s good.”

  “And you?”

  “I’m … OK,” she said. “Did you find any new gifts today?”

  “No,” Ryan said.

  “Is that good news?”

  “I’m not sure. Did Mai find anything at her place?”

  “I don’t think so.” She turned to Mai and asked her the question.

  Mai shook her head. “No.”

  “Nothing,” she told Ryan.

  “I still don’t want you to go anywhere by yourself,” he said. “Just because we haven’t found anything today, doesn’t mean the person has given up.”

  “I’m meeting my father down by the river this morning,” she told him. “But there’ll be a lot of people there.”

  “What time?”

  “Nine.”

  “Can someone go with you?”

  She hesitated. “Hang on a second.” She put her hand over the phone and asked Mai if she could accompany her. “I can help out here afterwards,” she added.

  “Sure.”

  Hannah smiled and told Ryan.

  “Great.” He paused. “Do you want to have dinner with me tonight? Full disclosure, Felix will be at Jacob’s place at a sleepover.”

  Her pulse leapt in anticipation. Something normal after all that had been happening. “I’d love to.”

  “Where do you want to go?”

  Hannah hesitated, remembering the last night they’d spent together. Her cheeks flushed. She wanted to spend time with Ryan and not have to worry about who was watching or who might interrupt. She wanted to be with him. “We could do dinner at your place again.”

  “Are you sure?” His concern was clear.

  “Yes. I could bring a salad.”

  “Don’t bring anything but yourself,” he said. “I’ll be home by six.”

  She embraced the tingles on her skin. “I’ll see you then.” She hung up. She was going to be alone with Ryan. She smiled. She was ready.

  Noticing the time, she said, “We’d better get going.”

  “Of course. Let me take this off.” Mai stood and put her apron out the back, calling out to Penny that she would be back in an hour.

  Hannah placed her rubbish in the bin, fetched Joe from upstairs and then together they walked down to the river.

  She couldn’t see her father when she arrived. There were a couple of families with small children playing in the playground, so she wandered to a bench seat not far away to wait.

  “Do you want me to wait with you?” Mai asked.

  “Yeah, that would be good.” Now that she was out here in the open, she felt vulnerable. Joe was definitely slower today, not as perky as normal. She scanned the area, alert. There were a couple of seagulls hovering around, hoping to get a scrap of food, and a lone kayaker paddling down the river. He could be her stalker and she wouldn’t know it.

  Her father got out of a blue Hyundai and scanned the area. “There he is.” She waved to get his attention. He acknowledged her and moved towards her. She was determined to get some answers from him this morning – they couldn’t begin a relationship until the truth was out. A police car drove slowly down the street with Ryan and Adam inside. Hannah smiled. They didn’t park but continued to cruise along the road.

  “I’ll wait here,” Mai said.

  “Thanks.” Nerves swirled in her stomach as Hannah stood, smoothing down her T-shirt and taking a calming breath before she walked to him with Joe by her side. “Hi, Da
d.” It didn’t feel right to hug him, so she just smiled.

  “Can we walk along the river?” he asked. “Since I got out of jail, I feel like everyone is watching me. I like to keep moving, enjoy the ability to be out in the fresh air and not surrounded by a fence.”

  On this side of the river there weren’t a lot of shrubs to hide in. She should be safe, Joe was with her and Mai had her back. “Sure.”

  They were silent as they made their way across the grass to the river and then Ivan said, “I’m sorry about yesterday.”

  So was she. “It wasn’t your fault. I wasn’t expecting them home for Christmas.” She still wished they’d stayed away.

  “I’m sorry for causing you more grief.” His tone was pained.

  “It’s all right.”

  Ivan shook his head. “No, it’s not. I’ve done nothing but cause you pain and still I’m adding to it.” His voice broke on the last words and he took a moment to compose himself.

  Touched by his concern, she placed a hand on his arm. “Granddad will come around,” she said. “We’ll work out an arrangement.”

  “Not just your grandfather.” He stopped and covered her hand with his, his face stricken.

  This was the opening she was waiting for. “You’re right. We need to talk about what happened with Mum.”

  He shook his head. “Not that.”

  Frustration welled up in her. “Yes that, Dad. It’s the elephant in the room, can’t you see that?”

  “It can wait—”

  “No, it can’t. I have a right to know what happened, I need to know what happened for my own peace of mind. So many of my decisions have been made based on what happened that night.”

  His eyes widened. “You don’t understand.”

  “No, I don’t, but I want to. I want you to tell me how you could have killed Mum.”

  His mouth moved, but no words came out and his hands fluttered by his side.

  “This is important, Dad.” She wasn’t going to back down this time.

  “I can’t talk about it.”

  Hannah closed her eyes and the hurt swept through her. “Then I can’t talk to you. Don’t call me again until you’re ready to explain.”